Ramp meters have to wait on eastbound bridge approaches

The new ramp meters on eastbound approaches to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge will not be turned on this week as previously planned.

The State Department of Transportation postponed the start-up because of problems with the microwave system that connects data collectors on the ramps with the Tacoma traffic management center, said spokeswoman Claudia Cornish. The meters regulate the flow of traffic onto the bridge.

No new date has been set for the start-up.

“We don’t want to turn it on until everything is tested and working well,” Cornish said.